In the United Kingdom, the correct display of your vehicle's number plate is crucial to avoid fines and legal consequences. Read on to understand all the rules and regulations.
Legal Positioning of Number Plates
Your vehicle's number plate must be mounted on the outside of the vehicle and not inside the vehicle. It should be easily visible even in bright sunlight to both police officers and ANPR cameras. Placing the plate behind the windscreen can cause it to be obscured by reflections on the glass, making it unreadable. Driving with incorrectly displayed number plates can result in a fine of up to £1000.
According to the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001:
“A registration plate must be fixed on the front of the vehicle vertically or, where that is not reasonably practicable, in a position as close to the vertical as is reasonably practicable. In such a position that in normal daylight the characters of the registration mark are easily distinguishable from every part of a relevant area having the diagonal length specified.
“A registration plate must not be treated in any other way which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which would prevent or impair the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device.”
Can I display my number plate behind the windscreen?
Cars can sometimes be seen driving on the UK’s roads with the front number plate tucked on the dashboard behind the windscreen. This is not recommended as reflections off the glass can render it unreadable. Doing so could result in a fine again of up to £1000.
What happens if your plate falls off while you are driving?
In such situations, police officers may exercise their discretion, with some being more lenient than others, particularly if your plate was initially installed correctly. While many police officers may offer a word of advice and let you on your way, it is not guaranteed, so if you're pulled over with the plate inside the car, you could face a significant fine.
Can you drive with just one number plate in the uk ?
No, number plates MUST be displayed both on the front and rear of all cars by law, it is illegal to drive a car in the UK without displaying both number plates. Failure to do so can lead to fines, and incorrectly displayed plates will cause your vehicle to fail its MOT.
Motorcycles, however, have different rules, with those registered after 2001 required to display only a single yellow rear plate. Pre-2001 models may display a front plate, but it is optional and not required by law.
Older motorcycle models that date from 1975 or earlier were required to display a white number plate on the front mudguard. The position of the front number plate meant that it was only visible from a side view and it was eventually phased out.
What about Trailer registration plates?
Trailer registration plates follow the same rules as above.
In addition to the above roles, the trailer registration number plate should be fitted as far as possible from the towing vehicle's number plate, so the towing vehicle's number plate is still visible.
The trailer must display the same number plate as the vehicle you are towing the trailer with, it is an offense to display number plates that are not the same as the towing vehicles.
If you are unable to fix the trailer registration plate to the back of the trailer, a trailer registration plate should be fitted on both sides of the trailer instead.
Current DVLA legislation requires that all number plates are:
- Made from reflective material
- White with black letters for the front
- Yellow with black letters for the rear
- Do not contain a pattern
- Display the maker of the plate
- Be marked with a British Standard number (after Sept 2021)
While the plate background must be made from a reflective material to comply with the law, the plate characters must not be reflective.
Letter styles and spacing also need to be of the approved size and height.
When you are attaching number plates to your vehicle or trailer, you should take care not to fix bolts or screws in ways that will obscure the license number.
Display Your Personalised Number Plates Correctly
Like any other number plates, personalised plates must conform to legal requirements and be correctly displayed. You should only have your plates made up by registered number plate suppliers, like ourselves to avoid any legal issues.
We ensure all our number plates are compatible with UK reg plate law. If you would like to get your own personalised number plate, use our plate search to find your ideal registration now.
To order standard physical plates, 3D Gel plates or our 3mm 4D plates, please click here. These can be ordered separately, if you already have a number plate and want to upgrade from standard plates, or if you want to add them to your order.
Connect with us!
For any questions or assistance, contact Moonstone Plates on 01995 213112 or visit us at www.moonstoneplates.com. Follow us on social media to stay informed about any regulation changes, updates, and information.
